Met Police takes control of some investigations into Westminster betting scandal

Scotland Yard has taken control of some criminal investigations into the Westminster betting scandal from the gambling watchdog, it emerged on Wednesday night.

It comes after Scotland Yard was accused of trying to take control of the election betting scandal inquiry from the Gambling Commission.

The force said it will take charge of a small number of cases where offences such as misconduct in public office are alleged to have been committed.

The Metropolitan Police is aiding the Gambling Commission as it tries to unravel a series of bets placed on the timing of the election.

In a sign of growing tensions, a source close to the Home Office questioned the need for Scotland Yard to become further embroiled in the investigation.

The commission declined to respond to the claims. A spokesman said: “We are not making any comments at this stage.”

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “The Met is not taking over the investigation into bets on the timing of the General Election.

“The Gambling Commission will continue to lead the investigation into cases where the alleged offending is limited to breaches of the Gambling Act only.

“Met detectives will lead on investigating a small number of cases to assess whether the alleged offending goes beyond Gambling Act offences to include others, such as misconduct in public office.

“We will provide further information tomorrow.”

Five Conservatives have been implicated in the scandal, including two candidates who have been suspended from the party. There is no suggestion that any of them have broken the criminal law.

However, the Met’s involvement raises the possibility that any new inquiries could involve politicians being investigated for potential public office offences.

But a senior police officer working in Rishi Sunak’s close protection team has been arrested on suspicion of committing misconduct in public office.

It represents a further escalation in an inquiry that has derailed Mr Sunak’s election campaign.

It will also anger insiders. A source close to the Cabinet Office has already accused police of leaking the identities of the Tory suspects to the press, an allegation angrily denied by Scotland Yard.

However, a source close to the Home Office said it would be inappropriate for the police to take full control.

The source said: “It’s outrageous that an organisation reported to have been leaking the names of people involved in this investigation would be allowed to mark its own homework. Met Police officers are being investigated as part of this. How can the Met be impartial? This needs an immediate rethink.”

The first senior Tory to be implicated in the election betting scandal has been interviewed by the gambling watchdog, it has been reported.

Craig Williams, who is Rishi Sunak’s top parliamentary aide, was questioned by Gambling Commission investigators on Wednesday.

Sky News reported that he was cautioned and interviewed by a panel of three officials after a “live criminal investigation” was launched.

The interview is said to have happened just 24 hours after the Conservatives suspended Mr Williams as a parliamentary candidate.

The former Tory MP, who is contesting the Welsh seat of Montgomeryshire, has admitted taking a “flutter” on the timing of the election.

He is reported to have put £100 on a snap poll taking place in July three days before Mr Sunak publicly named the date.

The revelations came to light on June 12 when The Guardian reported that he was being investigated by the Gambling Commission.

At the time Mr Williams said: “I put a flutter on the general election some weeks ago. This has resulted in some routine inquiries and I confirm I will fully co-operate with these.

“I don’t want it to be a distraction from the campaign, I should have thought [about] how it looks.”

He was suspended as a Tory candidate on Tuesday, with the party saying that it had decided to take the action following its own internal inquiry.

Mr Williams issued a defiant statement in response, insisting that he had “committed a serious error of judgment, not an offence”.

Sky News reported the Gambling Commission team of interviews looking at his case includes two former police detectives and an ex-HMRC investigator.

It added that, if found to have broken the rules, he could face prosecution, a caution, or no further action depending on the evidence.

The Gambling Commission can investigate and prosecute breaches of the law, which can see those convicted face a fine or a jail sentence of up to two years.

Under the 2005 Gambling Act, it is a criminal offence to cheat at gambling yourself or to do anything for the purpose of enabling or assisting another person to cheat. Mr Williams is one of five senior Tories who have been named as being under investigation by the gambling watchdog for bets on the timing of the election.

Laura Saunders, who was standing for the party in Bristol, is also being looked at and was suspended as a parliamentary candidate on Tuesday.

She is married to Tony Lee, the Conservative Party’s director of campaigning, who is also being investigated as is Nick Mason, its head of data.

On Tuesday evening Russell George, the Tories’ deputy chief whip in Wales, became the fifth party figure to be publicly named as part of the investigation.

He is a member of the Senedd and represents Montgomeryshire, the same geographical area which makes up Mr Williams’ constituency.

A Gambling Commission spokesman told Sky News: “We do not comment on how investigations are run.”

Separately it emerged that the Gambling Commission has asked betting firms for information on candidates who placed bets on the result of their own seats.

The watchdog wrote to bookmakers after opening an investigation into Kevin Craig, a former Labour candidate, who put a wager on himself to lose on July 4. Mr Williams has been contacted for comment.